Fluid-pressure engine



W. E. BAKER.

FLUID PRESSURE ENGINE`l` APPLlcArloN mm MAR. 5. 1920.

15,391,446. Patentedsept. 2o, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SEEE 1..'

w @f l? @l mmm;

W. E. BAKER.

FLUID PRESSURE ENGINE. A

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 51 1920.

1,391,446. Patentedsept. 2o, 1921,

A I I Q "Il I% I v 'III I% W. IL'BAKER.

FLUID PRESSURE ENGINE. l APPLICATION FILED IIIAILFIl 1926. 1,391,446, Y Patentedsept. 20,1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

w.. E. BAKER. FL|D-PREssuRs ENGINE. APPLecATLoN FILED mms, 1923'0.

Patented spt. 20,1921.

4 SHEETS-subir 4.

UNITED STATES y.PATENTV OFFICE.-

w WILLIAM 11 BAKER, or -noci: ISLAND,v ILLINOIS.

FLUID-PRESSURE ENGTNE. v

insure proper and efficient distribution ofv the pressure fluid to the cylinders lin a de-l sired manner.

A further object of theinvention is to provide means wherebythe distribution of fluidpressure to the cylinders may be varied as to time and as to volume to accommodate spond in number with .the engine cylinders.

varying loads on the engine without varying the flow of the pressure of the fluid Aduringthe time that it is being distributed. A further object of the invention is yto provide simple means for changing the lead ofxthe distributing valve from time to time so that as the engine speed increases or decreases the admission of pressure fluid to thed cylinders may be correspondingly varie vFurther objectsvof the inventionl are to provide a balance valve which can be easily adjusted. for forward or reverse operation of the engine; which will -avoid back-pressure inthe cylinders by automatically opening` the cylinders to the atmosphere on the return stroke ofthe pistons and still preserve sufficient pressure in t-he cylinders to cushion thepistons; and which can be ,einf bodied vina simple and efficient manner in a'llkinds of rotary and stationary engines. In the accompanying drawings' I have Villustrated the balanced distributing valve in a selectedl embodiment and incorporated in ak rotary engine, butI do not limit myself to this .particular embodiment or installation as will more fully appearhereinafter. Y.

Figure 1 is asectional view'of the distributingvalve on thevline 1 -1'of-I "ig. 2.

'Fig'. 2 is a Vsectional end elevation of the -distributing valve partly broken away an taken on the line 2.4-2of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the distributing valve partly broken away.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sgpt,

Application led March 5,'1920. -Serial No. 363,537.

the number of cut-off points desired and this is a detailiplan View of the bridge Fig. 5 is a detail view of the pressure control levers.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation, kpartly in section and y'partly broken'away, andFig. 7 is a side-elevation, partly in section, showing a rotary engine embodying my invention g. and- Figs.y 8 and 9 are ysimilarviews showing a slightly different constructionv of rotary engine-embodying the -invention.

. Referring to'k the drawings, in which like .numerals of lreference indicate vcorresponding parts inthe several figures, the balance valve comprises the body 1 which is divided at 2 and is l arranged within abushing 3, said bushing having a `plurality of ports 4 whichregister'with elongated ports 5 lin the valve body FigtQ). The ports @conform inarea with the area .of the cylinders, they are spaced. apart equally, and they corre- The. ports 5 are located in adjacent relation and are governed as to number 'and size by depends, as is wellknown in engine practice, upon the character of work the engine is built to perform. Angle, pinsk @are pivotally engaged withears 7, 7 on the valve body and they have telescopic engagement with` radial sockets 81 on the pressure .inlet pipe 9 whereby the valve body is permitted to expand and contractl` without affecting the inlet'tu-be upon which it is supported. yA lever in the form of a yoke comprising two members 10, 10 varranged side by lside is pivotally engaged with the ears 7, 7 on f thevalve body by pins 11 which are seated in said ears and in the ends of the yoke lever (Figs- 1, 5). rThe other end of the yoke lever is pivotallyV engaged at 12y with .the

connecting rod13 which is provided atits other end with the cross pin 14; by which it is pivotally engaged with the piston 15 arranged to operate in a cylinder 16 formed in the valve body. A connecting yoke 17 is pivotally connected at 18 to ears 19 onl the valvel body and at 20 to oppositely disposed bosses 21 on the yoke lever members 10, 10 The ears7 7 land the iears 19 are located adjacent .to the ends 2 of the divided valve body and on-opposite sides thereof so that the valvel body can be readily contractedor expanded Yby the pressure controll mechanism to preserve the properjrictional engagement yof thebody with .the bushing under all pressure conditions.

A bridge plate 22 (Figs. 2, 4) is yield- Vingly held by bolts 23y and Vsprings 24 in place within a seat 22 in the valve body` over the slot between the ends 2 of the body,

Y and keys 25 are seated in said ends adjacent the sides of the valve body to prevent leakage of pressure lengthwise of the slot from within the valve body to the engine cylinders.

vThis bridge plate is held by. the pressure within thevalve body snugly against the ends .2 .of thebody and efectually seals the slot :upon the piston 15 and operate therelease mechanism comprising the lever yoke and the connectingyoke 17 to hold the valve 'body' against the tendency of the pressure to expand the same, thus utilizing that pres sure to operate the mechanical means for ,ad-

justing the lvalve body to compensate fori any increase or decrease of pressure'. It will .beclearly apparent that as .the valve body Vand bushing wear in actual use the valve body will automatically expand to compensate forsuch wear thereby. insuring a proper -f1t of these working parts'atall times `and under all pressure conditions. rlhe predetermined relation of the valve body andthe bushing-is constantlyl maintained regardless of wear and variations in pressure, and

` vthereby I avoid leakage dueto wear and looseness of lit and also avoid any increase in friction between these parts which mightk otherwise be due to an-increase of pressure.

mounted on an arm 27 within the valve body A variable cut-ofi' plate 26 is pivOtally and this armis rigidly mounted onran operating rod 28 located within the pressure inlet tube 9. A- handle lever 29 is-provided on the outer' end of the rod 28 whereby the rod can be rocked in itsbearingsin the tube to adjust the cut-off plate as desired.A This cut-off plate'is segmental in shape to fit the inner wall of the valve body 1 and the connection 27 between the arm 27 andthe plate is somewhat loose to `provide for wear on the plate. Itwill befunderstood, ofcourse, thatv the-pressure within the valvejbody 'will hold the platein operative engagement with the "valvebody regardless of this loose vconnection. The cut-off plate is of a size adapted yto cut olf all of the ports 5 in the 'valve body, and it is quite apparent that by operating the handle lever 29 the plate can be adjusted Vto, cut off one or more of theports 5 as may be desired to properly proportion the presy sure to the load. yIt will be understood, however, that while the cut-ofi'l kplate may be adjusted to vary the distribution of fluid pressure as totme and as tok volumeto accommoyis not in any way diminished.

date varying loads onj the engine, the 'flow of the pressure ofthe. fluid during the time' that it is being ydistributed to the cylinders i Itv will also be apparent that the plate can be Yused to cut off all of the ports 5 and thereby stop the engine in any emergency which mighty prevent proper manipulation of the throttle. The outer wall of the body is cut out to provide Va passage 30 located opposite the ports 5 in proper relation thereto toenable the escape of pressure fromthe cylinders on thereturn stroke of the pistons; When the pistons 31 (Figs. 6,8) passes ports 32 on its return stroke, the pressure within thecylinder 33 Vabovethepiston passes out through the passage 34 and through the .passage 30 in the valve body to the following cylinder in front of the piston therein andthence througlrthe ports 32 in that cylinder into the chamber 35 `in the engine casing 36, from 4which it is Lpermitted toescape through an Thus, in a verysnnple manner, Y ,back pressure in the engine cylinders is yenoutlet 37.

tirely 'avoided and consequentvloss of power is entirely overcome.

My balance valve may be incorporated in rotary or stationary engines of all kinds so far as I know, with such changes and modications as maybe necessary or desirable to therein is illustrated in Figs. 6to '9, and re# Vferring thereto the lengine cylinders 33 are mounted in a crank case 38 in which the bal- 'ance Vvalve is alsov arranged; In the construction of Figsa and 7 noweris transferred to a propeller shaft 39, andv in'the uconstruction of Figs. 81and 9 power is transreverse the movement of the crankcase and theengine'lI operate thehandle lever -29 to advance the cut-off plate 26 to the oppo- Y site side of the ports 5' and then shift the I positionof the valve body within the bush?` ling by` operating the handle .lever 41 to the otherV side ofthe deadv center. It will be .95 1 adapt it for a particular installation. A roi tary engine `of`two slightly different constructions and havingV my valve. embodied observed thatthis change of direction ofV .me to produce-an engine veryV much lighter in weight for* a given'horse powerthanhas heretofore lbeen possible, so far. as I'fam aware, due to thel simple and compactfcon- Y.

struction ofthe valve mechanism and the Iengine construction. fForthis reason and because it can beso easily operated .and is so free from liability of getting out ofA order,.`it,is especially adapted for automobile use. A steam engine constructed in accordance withmy invention can be operated at loW or high speed, and becauseit` is light in weight and can be run vefliciently at. high speed,v I believe it is well adapted forr aeroplane use. My invention is-also adapted for Vmarine engines, Ytractor engines and stationary engines of 'allv kinds so far as I am vat present aware. `mechanism for adjusting the; valve body is The pressure control automatically` A l'operated by the .pressure within the valve body to maintain the valve body in its proper. relation to the bushing so that there will/be nomaterial variation in friction due yto changes; in pressure. Furthermore, this automatici'v Aadjustment takes care of any wearbetween the valve body and the bushingsothat these parts will always be maintained intheirvpro'per relation. I am aware that it Will be necessary to changegthe construction and proportion and arrangement of the details of' my invention `to adapt it for: different installations,

Yand I thereforereserve the right to make allsuch changes and modifications as 'fairly fall within the scope ofxthe following claims. 1

I claim: f f s n l. A distributing valve for fluid pressure engines comprising a valve body in the general form of a dividedrng and adapted to receive fluid under pressure therein and having outlet ports, and means engaged withv the ends of said body and adapted to be opengaged with said ring'adjacent the ends vthereof' and adapted to be operated by the fluid. within the body forautomatically adjusting said body to compensate for wear and to prevent tendency of the body to-.eX-

Vpand under pressurefof the fluid within the body.

A distributing valve for fluid pressure engines comprising La valve body inthe general form of a divided ring'and adapted to receive fluid under pressure therein and having outlet ports, and means'comprising lever devices engaged with said ring adjacentjits ends and pistonmeans adapted to 'be operatedv by the fluid within the body for actuating said lever devices to prevent any materialgincrease offffrietionby expanj.

sion of the body due to the pressure of the fluid within the body. f

4.. A distributing valve for fluid pressure engines comprising a valvebody in the'general formof a divided ring and adapted ,to receive fluid under pressure therein and having outlet ports, and means comprising ears `projecting inwardly from the ring adjacent the ends thereof, lever devices pivotyally engaged with said ears and with eachv other, and a piston pivotally connected with nsaid lever devicesand operated by the fluid withinthe valve body .tocontrol Vsaid lever devices and prevent'the valve body from expanding under pressure ofthe fluid within the body.

5. A distributing valve for fluid pressure engines comprising a valve body in the general form of a divided ring and adapted to receive fluid underV pressure therein and having outlet ports, andfmeans comprising Vlever devicesy engaged .with said ring adjacent its ends, a cylinder formed in one side of the ring, and a piston in said cylinder connected with said lever devices and operated by the fluid within*` the valve body to control said lever devicesv and prevent eX- pansion of the valvef'body under pressure of the'fluid within the body.

6. A distributing `valve for fluid pressure engines comprising Aa valve body in the general form of a d1v1ded rmg and adapted `to receive fluidunder pressure therein' and l.having outlet/ports, a tube for admitting fluid to the ring, adjustable connections be.-

tween said ring and tube, and means adapted to be operated by the fluid .within the body for automatically adjusting said body to compensate for wear and to prevent mate-V rial expansion of the vbody under pressure of the fluid within the body.

7. A distributing valve for fluid pressure enginescomprising a valve body in the general form of a divided ring and adapted to receive fluid under pressure therein and having outlet ports, a tube forl admitting fluid to the ring, and connections between the ring and rtube-pivotally engaged with the'ring andv telescopically engaged with the tube. Y

. z 8. A distributing valve-'for fluid pressure engines comprising a valve body in the general lforni of a divided'ring and adapted to receive fluidgunder pressure therein and having outlet ports, a tube' for admitting fluid to the ring, and connections 'between the ring vand-tube comprising ears' on the ring and sockets on the tube and pins pivotally engaging said earsand telescopically engaging lsaid sockets.

9. A distributing valve for fluid pressure engines comprising a valve body in the general form. of a dividedring and` adapted to receive fluid under pressure therein and `having outlet ports, a ,cut-off' plate Y arranged Within the valve body, and means for operat- Y ing said plate'to vary the ffluid outlet from said valve body.

V10. A distributing valve for fluid pressure engines comprising a valve body in the general form of a divided ring andadapted to receive fluid under pressure therein and having'outlet ports, a variable cut-off' plate arranged within the valve' body and conformf ing with the curvature thereof at the outlet ports, and means for voperating ysaid plate to vary the fluid outlet from said body.

V11. A Vdistributing valve for fluidi` pressure engines comprising a valve body in the general form of a divided ring and adapted vto receive fluid under pressure therein and having outlet ports, a variable cut-offl plate 'rotatable within the valve body over the outlet ports," and means for adjusting said plate to---vary the fluid outlet from the body.

12. A distributing valve for fluid pressure 'engines comprising a valve 4body in the general form of a divided ring and adapted to receive fluid under pressure therein and 'having' outlet ports, avariable cut-off` plate conforming with the curvature of the inner wall of the valve body at the'outlet ports and rotatably movable within said body, yanl arm radially disposed Vwithin the valve body and loosely connected with said plate, and means connected'with said arm for adjusting said plate to varythe fluid outlet from the valve body. I

A distributing valve for fluid pressure engines comprising a valve body in the general form of a divided ring and adapted to receive fluid under pressure therein and having outletjrports, a tube for admitting fluid' to said valve body, a variable cut-ofi'l Vrotata.-

i blymovable within said valve body over .the outlet ports, a rod located within said tube, an arm rigidA with said rod and loosely engaged with said plate, and means for-'operating the 'rod to adjust the plate for varying the fluid outlet. A

14. distributing valve for fluid pressure engines comprising a valve body in the gen- I .eral form of a divided ring and adapted to receive fluid under pressure Ytherein and having outlet` ports, and means for preventing `.the escape'of fluid between the ends of said ring.

15. vA distributing valve `for fluid pressure engines comprising a valve body in the general formofa divided ring land adap-ted to receivevfluid underpressure therein and havling outlet ports,"and means for preventing the escape of fluid between the ends of said 'body comprisinga plate bridging the space between the ends of said body an'dlheld by fluid pressurewithin the body againstthe.

inner Vwall thereof.

16. A distributing'valve for fluid pressure Yengines comprising ay valve-body in the general form of a divided ring and adapted to receive fluid under pressure therein and. hav-V ing outlet ports, and means for preventingV escape of fluid between the ends of the body i comprising a plate seated inthe inner wall of the body lby the fluidk pressure within the body and bridging. the space between @the .ends of the body, and keys engaging the ends engines comprising a valve bodyin the' gen- -l eral form-of'. a divided ring and adapted to .receive fluid un'derf pressure therein andhaving outlet'ports," and means 'carried' by one end ofthe body andbridging the space between the endsy of the body to of fluid'through said space. Y n

19. A distributing valve for fluid pressure prevent -escape engines comprising a valve body in the general formof a dividedring and-adapted to receiveV fluid under pressure therein and having outlet ports, means for'preventing escape of fluid in one direction through the space between the ends of the-body, and independent means for preventing'the escape of fluid in another direction throughsaid space.

ioo Y V2O. A distributing valve/for fluid pressure engines comprising a valve body'infthe gens eral form of a divided ring and adaptedto receive fluid under pressure therein and having outlet ports located in adj acent'relation at one side of said valve body, and' apassage in the body to permit escape of back pres- Y.

sure from the engine. Y Y Y 21. A distributing valve for fluid pressure engines'comprising a valve body in the 5" vgeneral form of a'divided r1nga-ndadap'ted to -receive "fluid 'under pressure ltherein and having outlet ports located in adjacent relation at one side of said-valve body and a cutoutpassageon the outer face .of said valve body opposite vsaidoutlet ports.

Q 22'. A ,distributing valveA forwfluid pressure engines comprising a Vvalve'body in the general form of a divided ring alidadaptedl to receive fluid under pressure therein'and "having outlet'portslocated in adjacentrelation at one side-of ysaid valve body, and apassage` in the body opposite vsaid pressure from the enginef i y 23. A distributing valve for fluid "presoutlet to vpermit the escape of back Vpressure sure engines comprising a Vvalve body in the general formof a dividedring and adapted Vto receive fluid under pressure therein andY having outlet ports located `in"adjacent re- 24. In a fluid pressure engine, the combination of ai pressure distributing valve comprising a'body in the general form vof a divided ring and adapted to receive Huid under pressure therein and having outlet ports, a bushing surrounding lsaid valve body andl having ports therein to register with the ports in the valve body, one of said members being movable relatively to the other member, and means for maintaining a constant frictional relation between the valve body and Vthe bushing regardless of variation in pressure within the valve body.

25. In a fluid pressure engine the combination ofa pressure distributing valve comprising a body in the general form of a divided ring and adapted to receive fluid under pressure therein and having outlet ports, a bushing surrounding said y valve body and having spaced ports to register with said valve body ports, one of said members being movable `relatively to the other member, and means within the valve body and adapted to be operated by pressure therein to control the tendency of said valve body to expand with the increase of pressure and to maintain a constant frictional relation between the valvevbody and bushing under all conditions of pressure.

26. In a fluidpressure engine, the combination of a pressure distributing valve comprising a body in the general form of a divided ring and adapted to receive fluid under pressure therein and having outlet ports, a bushing surrounding said valve body and having ports therein to register with the valve body ports, one of said members being movable relatively to the other member and one of said members having a passage to permit escape of back pressure from the engine. Y

27. In a Huid pressure engine, the combi-A nation of a pressure distributing valve comprising a body prising a body in the general form of a y divided lring and adapted to receive fluid under pressure therein and having outlet ports, a bushing surrounding said valve body and having ports toregister with the valve body ports, one of said members being movable relatively to the other member and said valve body having a passage therein to permit escape of back pressure from .the engine.

28. In a fluid pressure engine, the combination of a pressure distributing valve come prising a body in the general form of a kdivi-ded ring and adapted to receive uid under pressure therein and having outlet ports, a bushing surrounding said valve body and having ports to register with the valve body ports, one of said members being movable relatively to the other member and having a passage between itself vand the bushing to permit escape of back pressure from the engine. l 29. In a fluid pressure engine, the combination of a pressure distributing valve comin the general form of a divided ring `and adapted to receive fluidV under pressure therein and having outlet ports, a bushing surrounding said valve body yand'having ports to register with the valve body ports, one of said members being movable relatively to the other member, and said valve bodyv being cut out on itsv outer face opposite the outlet ports to form a passage between itself and the bushing to Vpermit escape ofback pressure from the engine.

'30. In a Huid pressure engine, the combif revolving with said crank case around said valve body, and means within the valve body for controlling the tendency of the body kto expandl with the increase of pressure therein, whereby a predetermined frictional relation between the valve body and bushing may be substantially maintained under variations of pressure. Y

WILLIAMv E. BAKER. 

